The Taking of Power by Louis XIV

Overview

Cardinal Mazarin dies, leaving a power vacuum in which the young Louis asserts his intention to govern as well as rule. Mazarin's fiscal advisor, Colbert, warns against Fouquet, the Superintendant who has been systematically looting the treasury and wants to be prime minister. Fouquet believes Louis will soon tire of exercizing power and overplays his hand by offering a bribe to Louis' mistress to be his ally. She reports this to the king who arrests Fouquet. Louis and Colbert design a brilliant strategy to keep merchants making money, nobles in debt, the urban poor working and fed, and peasants untaxed.

Details

Cast

Jean-Marie Patte

Louis XIV

Raymond Jourdan

Jean Baptiste Colbert

Silvagni

Cardinal Mazarin

Katharina Renn

Anne d'Autriche

Dominique Vincent

Madame Du Plessis

Pierre Barrat

Nicolas Fouquet

Fernand Fabre

Michel Le Tellier

Françoise Ponty

Louise de la Vallière

Joëlle Laugeois

Marie-Thérèse

Maurice Barrier

D'Artagnan

André Dumas

Le Père Joly

François Mirante

M. de Brienne

Roger Guillo

L'apothicaire

Louis Raymond

Le premier médecin

Maurice Bourbon

Le deuxième médecin

Michel Ferre

M. de Gesvres

Guy Pintat

Le chef-cuisinier

Michelle Marquais

Mme de Motteville

Jean-Jacques Daubin

M. de Vardes

Georges Goubert

M. de Soyecourt